Roses Are Red, Woman Is Blue Over Lost Flowers

ZEBULON, N.C. — Flowers often hold special memories for people, so many people choose to preserve them as mementos of a high school prom, wedding or funeral.

Patricia Lysen saved flowers from her grandfather's funeral in February to help remember him. But the company she paid to preserve the memory might have lost it.

"It was just something to remember him by other than photographs, Lysen said of the flowers.

She hired Memories Forever in Rolesville to preserve the flowers and paid a $73 deposit. The arrangement was supposed to be ready in about six weeks, but it was more than three months before she finally heard from owner Toni Alford, who called to say the flowers would be ready in a week.

They weren't, and Lysen started to become anxious.

"I went in there every day, and if I didn't get in there every day, it was every other day," she said. "I was kind of, like, hounding the lady that was in there. I kept leaving my name and my number. 'Please call me. Please let me know something.'"

Memories Forever moved in July, and Lysen continued to call. Finally, she called 5 On Your Side.

Soon after that, Alford sent Lysen the wrong flowers.

"Oh, I was upset. I about hit the roof," Lysen said.

Alford blamed the delay on sickness, moving and miscommunication.

"It's got to be somewhere," she said. "We've never lost anything, broke anything, misplaced anything. So, I'm sure they're there. I just need to know what they are -- exactly what she had -- so I can make sure that they are found."

Alford promised to find the flowers and give Lysen a refund.

"Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes," Alford said.

But she still hasn't followed through with either the flowers or a refund.

"It was just another memory for me to have, and I don't have that," Lysen said. "It doesn't look like I'm going to get that, and it really hurts. I wish she would be honest enough to admit that she's made a mistake and at least give me my money back."

UPDATE: Alford provided a $100 refund and an apology on Dec. 8, 2006.